ma is the essence of the traditional Japanese aesthetic; the pure and essential void between all things. ma is uncluttered openness full of possibilities. It is the purposeful pauses in speech which make words stand out and the intervals of silence between the notes which make the music. It is in the quiet time in nature that we all need to make our busy lives joyful and meaningful. More than an aesthetic, ma is the eternally “in-between,” and it is this place in which our design practice resides; intentionally and indispensably lodged between planning, architecture and landscape.

Boutique

office ma is a boutique planning and design firm practicing internationally at the juncture of urban design, planning, and landscape architecture with a particular focus on Asia. office ma is small in order that our energy, talents and attention remain focused on a select number of projects and clients, with a commitment to long term relationships. We take every project personally and approach design with passion. Our size and approach enables more fruitful, efficient partnerships. Our business model is completely integrated with our design approach, with quality of concept and execution, and nurturing repeat clients as the ultimate drivers of our business. We maintain a small core studio, but with access to a broad base of expertise through our trusted colleagues in key locations we are capable of leading the design of a wide range of project scales from an urban plaza to regional park. We are small but we are tailored. We tailor our team and approach to each unique project and client.

Process

office ma is at its best when engaged early on to collaborate in the creation of a project and establish a master plan framework for development. We create value for the project at its inception when the long view, imagination and an openness to experimentation can reveal rich creative opportunities often missed by conventional design practices. The framework process can flush out and fill the gaps left by traditional forms of design practice, enabling the project to be scaled and phased to its maximum value. office ma approaches each project un-blindered by disciplinary boundaries, tightly defined scope or preconceptions in order to create value through every phase by creating a powerful but flexible project framework. Our emphasis on design concept, design detail and execution, ultimately results in built environments which are grounded in place while rich in experience, inspiration and beauty.